Paris climate agreement enters into force today

The Paris climate agreement enters into force on 4 November 2016, which means that the framework adopted by the world’s countries in Paris in December 2015 becomes binding for the countries that have ratified it.

To date, 97 countries – representing nearly 70 per cent of the world's total emissions – have ratified the agreement. These include the EU and 11 EU Member States, including Sweden. Sweden ratified the agreement on 13 October, which means that we become party to it 30 days later, on 12 November.

"I note that the world's countries have shown that they take the issue of climate change seriously when almost half of all countries have already ratified the Paris Agreement. Entry into force has gone very quickly, considering that less than one year has passed since the agreement was reached in Paris," says Minister for International Development Cooperation and Climate Isabella Lövin.

The twenty-second session of the Conference of the Parties (COP22) will begin in Marrakech on Monday 7 November. On 15 November, during the second week in Marrakech, the first Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA1) will open.

The comprehensive work on implementation of the agreement and developing its regulatory framework began during the year. Emphasis is now focused on the technical work needed to support implementation and follow-up of the climate agreement.

The global 'stocktake' is a key part of the agreement and aims to inform the countries of what is needed to achieve the temperature targets and so provide the basis for scaling up the national contributions. This requires a transparent system where the countries openly report their estimates and measurements of greenhouse gas emissions and removals.

"At the first meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement, we are now meeting as countries with common long-term objectives. I will try to ensure that we achieve a shared high level of ambition in the work ahead and that we design a robust regulatory framework for the Paris Agreement," says Ms Lövin.